Our graduation issue is one of the finest — if not THE finest — issues that we put out each year. It is an issue full of promise as classes from kindergarten to college end one stage of their lives and begin another. Graduation truly is a rite of spring for all of us — regardless of whether or not we have children matriculating to another level or not — because we all benefit from the promise that these young people — and the returning adults — fulfill as they pursue their working careers. As always, I am truly impressed by these students’ educational, social and athletic accomplishments. It seems that there are a few who have already accomplished more than I have at the spry old age of 55. Their accomplishments have varied according to their interests. Our Hues Row of Excellence is a reflection of the diversity of the leadership that will guide our world in the future.These students are truly diverse, unified by their potential to take meaningful leadership roles in the future because of the promise and potential they hold today. I hope our readers will take the time to read many of the micro-stories about these students and give them your full support, encouragement and congratulations if you see them in the course of your daily affairs. And speaking of young leaders of tomorrow, I — and everyone there — was truly impressed by the keynote address given by Stephanie Herrera to the 2008 Women in Focus scholarship recipients. Stephanie — a 2006 Women in Focus scholarship recipient — spoke with a wisdom beyond her years, fueled by hardships that she and her family have faced and a sense of positiveness that spoke truth to power. I expect to hear great things about Stephanie in the future. I have been pondering what words of wisdom I could possibly give to our graduates this year. During the past few months, I have begun to realize that I am in a transition in my life. At age 55, it seems that I hear with increasing frequency the news of someone whom I know having health problems or who have died. The people who created my perceptual view of the world are beginning to retreat from the world and I now understand what my parents underwent as the World War II generation began to fade from the scene and the baby boom generation began to take over. So if there is one thing that I could impress on the graduates of today, it is to create the foundation for a happy tomorrow by taking care of your health today. I can’t help but feel that we lay the foundation for our future health problems when we are young and crazy and feel that we will live forever. Being overweight and not exercising on a regular basis can lead to hypertension, diabetes and heart problems tomorrow. Smoking today can lead to a lack of lung capacity — not to speak of cancer — and the ability to get around tomorrow. What we do in the first 40 years of our lives will determine, in large part, our ability to enjoy the second 40 years of our lives. It is painful to watch others around me decline in their vitality over time because of their health. Vibrant community leaders can be reduced to a shadow of their former selves by health problems. Good health is not something that money can buy. Good health becomes more important than gold, especially when you are over 50 years old. You can have the biggest house, the fanciest car and the fattest pension that allows you to travel around the world and live in the tropics for the winter months, but if you don’t have good health, it could all be for naught. It may prevent you from enjoying the company of your loved ones. So far in my life, I have been blessed with good health. In my childhood, I got a tremendous amount of exercise as a newspaper carrier and a Boy Scout. My mother, bless her soul, was a dietician. And although my mom did have a sweet tooth — chocolate chip cookies were her specialty — I feel she also made sure we ate the nourishing food that we needed to have strong bodies. I feel that I am healthy today because of the foundation my mother laid for me some 50 years ago. So graduates, stay fit mentally and physically. As with most things in life, diversity is best. Use a diversity of exercises so that you haven’t blown out your knees and hips by the time you are 50 years old. And learn to eat nutritional meals. I wish long, meaningful lives to all of you. And I look forward to reading and writing about your accomplishments.